ERIE, Pa. - The eighth-ranked Mercyhurst University women's hockey team will be looking to achieve another program milestone when it hosts Colgate University in a two-game, non-conference series at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Game one is scheduled for Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. while Wednesday afternoon's start time is slated for 3:00 p.m.
The Lakers (12-2-1, 5-1-0 CHA) and the Raiders (3-9-0, 1-4-0 ECAC) have met 19 times entering play this week. Mercyhurst holds a 15-2-2 edge over Colgate and has won four straight meetings. The teams last met on November 27, 2010 with the Lakers skating away with a 4-2 victory at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.
Head coach
Michael Sisti, the only coach the women's program has ever had, has guided the Lakers to 399 career victories since the inception of the team in 1999-2000. Mercyhurst earned victory #399 on Saturday afternoon with a 4-1 victory over RIT to complete a weekend sweep.
The program has reached 399 victories in 544 games, which, with a win against Colgate, would make Mercyhurst the third-fastest program to earn 400 victories. Minnesota got to 400 wins in 502 games while New Hampshire reached the plateau in 506 games. Wisconsin, which got to 400 program victories last season, did it in 550 games.
This past weekend, the Lakers defeated RIT by identical 4-1 finals on Friday and Saturday. Junior forward
Emily Janiga led the way with two goals and three assists in the sweep, with her assist in the first period on Saturday being her 100th career point. Senior defenseman
Molly Byrne reached the 100-point plateau with an assist in Friday's win over the Tigers.
Senior
Amanda Makela improved to 12-2-1 overall on the season, stopping 26-of-28 combined shots in the two victories. She ranks second in the country behind Quinnipiac's Chelsea Laden with a 1.00 goals against average. Makela's save percentage of .949 is third behind Laden and RIT's Ali Binnington.
Janiga leads the Lakers with 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in 15 games this season. Junior
Jenna Dingeldein has six goals and nine assists while freshman
Sarah Robello has four goals and nine assists for 13 points in her first season.
Colgate has lost six of its last seven games after starting the season with a 2-3-0 record. It last played on Tuesday, November 18, when it suffered a 3-1 loss at Cornell.
Freshman Megan Sullivan leads the Raiders in scoring with six goals and five assists for 11 points in her first collegiate season. Junior Ashlynne Rando and Senior Brittney Brooks have split time in goal with Brooks posting the better numbers. The senior is 1-3-0 with a 2.33 goals against average and a .910 save percentage.
